Flexible film package bag

ABSTRACT

To provide a package bag that can be easily opened, while preventing unintentional breakage or opening. A flexible film package bag  1  comprises: a sealed portion  2  in which a flexible film is joined; and a plurality of notches  4  for opening. The plurality of notches  4  are provided in such a way that an end thereof on an outer edge portion  6  side of the flexible film package bag  1  is positioned away from the outer edge portion  6  by a predetermined distance. Since the outer edge portion  6  has neither a cutout nor slit and all notches  4  are away from the outer edge portion  6 , there is no risk of unintentional breakage or opening and the package bag can be easily opened as necessary.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a flexible film package bag that can beeasily opened and is superior in safety.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a package bag that seals a content such as foodstuff isprovided with a cutout portion in a region from which the package bag isopened, as shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C (hereinafter referred to as“opening start part Ro”). Since such a cutout portion is provided in anouter edge portion of the package bag, as with a V-shaped cutout 21shown in FIG. 10A, a U-shaped cutout 22 shown in FIG. 10B, or a homeplate shaped cutout 23 shown in FIG. 10C, it is easy to open the packagebag from the cutout portion as an opening start position. However, sucha cutout portion may cause the package bag to break or open duringpacking, distributing, unpacking, displaying and the like, byunintentionally being caught by a finger, cardboard, or another bag. Inaddition, in a package bag made of material that is relatively rigid,sharp edges of the cutout portion may injure fingers or cut protectivegloves.

In order to solve such problems, a package bag has been proposed inwhich the cutout portion of an outer edge portion is made as small aspossible, and a plurality of punched holes, indentations, or cuts(hereinafter referred to as notch) are provided more inward than theouter edge portion. Patent Document 1 discloses an invention relating toa packing bag that can be easily opened as shown in FIG. 11A, in whichthe thickness of the package bag is reduced by compressing the openingstart part Ro of the package bag and at the same time a plurality ofpunched holes 24 is provided. In addition, in a process of manufacturingthe opening start part Ro, since a part of a cutting part that producesthe plurality of punched holes 24 reaches the outer edge of the packagebag, fine cutouts 25 are also produced in the outer edge portion. Thecutouts 25 are smaller than the conventional cutout portion as describedabove. In the package bag shown in FIG. 11A, by providing the pluralityof punched holes 24 more inwards than the outer edge portion, resistanceto opening an inner region (due to a load originating in the innerregion against opening force) is reduced and thus it is possible to havethe fine cutouts 25 that are positioned at the outer edge portion fromwhich the package bag is opened.

Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses an invention relating to apacking bag that can be easily opened in which a plurality of notches isprovided in a region that is on an inner side of the outer edge portion,as shown in FIG. 11B. By providing the plurality of notches 26 shown inFIG. 11B at a position away from, and on an inner side of, the outeredge portion, resistance to opening is reduced, and thus it is possibleto have small notches 27 that are positioned at the outer edge portion.In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2, the above describedproblem of unintentional breakage or opening is thus solved by makingthe notches 27 positioned at the outer edge portion small.

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 2008-254818-   Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 2011-006107

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, in the above described techniques of Patent Document 1 andPatent Document 2, there are still cutouts and notches even though theyare small, so that the risk of the above described problem ofunintentional breakage or opening is not eliminated.

In addition, if the cutouts and notches in the outer edge portion aresmall as in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it may be difficultfor a user of the package bag to visually recognize the opening startpart.

The present invention has been made in view of the above describedcircumstances and is aimed at providing a package bag that preventsunintentional breakage or opening, and has an easily recognizableopening start part.

Means for Solving the Problems

In a first aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve theabove described objective, a flexible film package bag includes: asealed portion in which a flexible film is joined; and a plurality ofnotches for opening, in which the plurality of notches is provided insuch a way that an end thereof on an outer edge portion side of theflexible film package bag is positioned away from the outer edge portionby a predetermined distance.

According to the package bag with a safe notch as described in the firstaspect of the invention, since the outer edge portion has neither acutout nor slit and all notches are away from the outer edge portion,there is no risk of unintentional breakage or opening and the packagebag can be easily opened as necessary.

In a second aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve theabove described objective, the plurality of notches have a shapeenclosed by: a plurality of linear portions that are parallel to eachother or a plurality of linear portions that extend radially from aninner side to an outer side; and curved portions that connect both endsof the linear portions respectively.

According to the package bag with a safe notch as described in thesecond aspect of the invention, there is no risk of unintentionalbreakage or opening and the package bag can be easily opened asnecessary since a cleavage is readily formed outward from the notch endon a side towards the outer edge portion.

In a third aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve theabove described objective, the notch is formed by cutting the flexiblefilm in the linear portion as well as in a part of the curved portionincluding an end of the linear portion on the outer edge portion side.

According to the package bag with a safe notch as described in the thirdaspect of the invention, there is no risk of unintentional breakage oropening and the package bag can be easily opened as necessary since acleavage is readily formed outward from the notch end on a side towardsthe outer edge portion.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve theabove described objective, length (L) of each of the plurality of thenotches and thickness (P) of the sealed portion satisfy the followingrelationship (1)

4.0<L/P  (1).

According to the package bag with a safe notch as described in thefourth aspect of the invention, there is no risk of unintentionalbreakage or opening, and the package bag can be easily opened asnecessary since opening action stress tends to concentrate inward.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve theabove described objective, an outer edge portion on an outer side of apart in which the notch is provided has a concave portion formed bycutting out a trapezoidal shape in an inward direction. According to thepackage bag with a safe notch as described in the fifth aspect of theinvention, the concave portion can easily be recognized and therefore anopening start position can be easily found.

In a sixth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve theabove described objective, an outer edge portion on an outer side of apart in which the notch is provided has a convex portion that projectsin a trapezoidal shape in an outward direction.

According to the package bag with a safe notch as described in the sixthaspect of the invention, the convex portion can easily be recognized andtherefore an opening start position can be easily found.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, since the notches are provided moreinwards than the outer edge portion of the package bag, unintentionalbreakage or opening can be prevented. In addition, since the notches areprovided more inwards than the outer edge portion of the package bag, acleavage is readily formed from an inner side toward the outer edgeportion and the package bag can easily be opened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a package bag witha safe notch as an embodiment of the flexible film package bag accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along a straight line a-a′ inthe plan view of the package bag 1 with safe notch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along a straight line b-b′ inthe plan view of the package bag 1 with safe notch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along a straight line c-c′ inthe plan view of the package bag 1 with safe notch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a partially enlarged view of the opening start part Ro of thepackage bag 1 with safe notch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of one of the plurality of notches 4 shownin FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the opening action ofthe package bag 1 with safe notch has started;

FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a state in which a cleavage has beengenerated after starting the opening action of the package bag 1 withsafe notch;

FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating a state in which a cleavage has beenfurther extended after starting the opening action of the package bag 1with safe notch;

FIG. 4D is a diagram illustrating a state in which a cleavage hasultimately reached the outer edge portion 6 of the package bag 1 withsafe notch;

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a configuration, which is differentfrom that of FIG. 1, of the package bag with a safe notch as anembodiment of the flexible film package bag according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of one of the plurality of notches 4 shownin FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a configuration, which is differentfrom those of FIGS. 1 and 5A, of the package bag with a safe notch as anembodiment of the flexible film package bag according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of one of the plurality of notches 4 shownin FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration, which is differentfrom those of FIGS. 1, 5A and 6A, of the package bag with a safe notchas an embodiment of the flexible film package bag according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view illustrating a configuration, whichis different from that of FIG. 3A, of the package bag with a safe notchas an embodiment of the flexible film package bag according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating a shape of the notch 4 in the flexiblefilm package bag 1 in this case that is different from that of FIG. 3B;

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of thepackage bag shown in FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10A is plan view illustrating a configuration of a flexible filmpackage bag according to conventional art;

FIG. 10B is plan view illustrating a configuration of a flexible filmpackage bag according to conventional art;

FIG. 10C is plan view illustrating a configuration of a flexible filmpackage bag according to conventional art;

FIG. 11A is plan view illustrating a configuration of a flexible filmpackage bag according to conventional art; and

FIG. 11B is plan view illustrating a configuration of a flexible filmpackage bag according to conventional art.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 Package bag with safe notch    -   2 Sealed portion    -   2 a, 2 a′ Side sealed portion    -   2 t Upper end side sealed portion    -   2 b Lower base side sealed portion    -   3 Content storage portion    -   4 Notch    -   5 Through hole    -   6 Outer edge portion    -   7 Linear portion    -   8 Curved portion    -   9 Edge portion of notch (outer side)    -   10 Edge portion of notch (inner side)    -   12 Concave portion    -   13 Convex portion    -   14 Concave portion    -   15 Convex portion    -   21 V-shaped cutout    -   22 U-shaped cutout    -   23 Home plate shaped cutout    -   24 Punched hole on inner side of outer edge portion    -   25 Cutout in outer edge portion    -   26 Notch on inner side of outer edge portion    -   27 Notch in outer edge portion    -   Ro Opening start part    -   Fu Stress toward front face    -   Fd Stress toward back face    -   Ft Stress toward upper end    -   Fb Stress toward lower base

PREFERRED MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter withreference to the drawings. First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a package bag witha safe notch as an embodiment of the flexible film package bag accordingto the present invention.

The package bag 1 with a safe notch is a package bag having asubstantially rectangular shape composed of two sheets of film beinglayered, and comprising a sealed portion 2, a content storage portion 3,and a notch 4.

The sealed portion 2 is formed by joining the film layered in aperipheral region, which is an area of a predetermined width from anouter edge portion 6 of the package bag 1 with a safe notch. The layeredfilm in the sealed portion 2 is joined by heat sealing or with anadhesive. As used herein, an upper side of a sheet of FIG. 1 is referredto as an “upper end side” of the package bag 1 with a safe notch; alower side is referred to as a “lower base side”, a direction from arear side to a front side of the sheet is referred to as a “frontwarddirection”; and a direction from the front side to the rear side of thesheet is referred to as a “rearward direction”. The sealed portion 2 iscomposed of: side sealed portions 2 a, 2 a′ on left and right sides ofthe bag; an upper end side sealed portion 2 t; and a lower base sidesealed portion 2 b. In a bag making process, for example, after formingthe lower base side sealed portion 2 b and the side sealed portions 2 a,2 a′, the package bag is filled with content from an unsealed opening onthe upper end thereof. Thereafter, the sheets of film layered in theupper end portion of the package bag are joined to thereby form theupper end side sealed portion 2 t.

In the content storage portion 3, two sheets of layered film are notjoined as in the sealed portion 2 and form a pocket part, which canstore the content.

In a region of the sealed portion 2, in the opening start part Ro, aplurality of notches 4 is provided. Through holes penetrating the twosheets of film layered in the sealed portion 2 are formed as the notches4.

The notches 4 in the package bag 1 with safe notch are provided in atleast one of the side sealed portions 2 a, 2 a′

The notches 4 are of the same size and are provided at a plurality ofpositions for a predetermined width W, in a direction of c-c′ that isorthogonal to a direction of opening (for example, the direction of astraight line b-b′). For a package bag of a regular size of 130 to 150mm×180 to 220 mm, an appropriate distance X between the uppermost notch4 among the plurality of notches 4 and an upper end of the upper endside sealed portion 2 t is 15 mm to 50 mm and is preferably 20 mm to 30mm. In addition, the number of notches 4 on left and right sides isvariable depending on size, shape, and material of the package bag, butan appropriate number thereof is 3 to 15, and preferably 5 to 10 in viewof finger size of a user holding the package bag 1 with safe notch.

The material of the package bag 1 with safe notch in the presentembodiment is flexible film. The flexible film is one or plurality ofkinds selected from: synthetic resin film such as polyethylene (filmthickness 50 μm to 100 μm), polyethylene terephthalate (film thickness 9μm to 25 μm), nylon (film thickness 12 μm to 25 μm), barrier nylon (filmthickness 15 μm to 25 μm), and cast polypropylene (film thickness 50 μmto 100 μm); gas barrier film (deposited film to which a gas barrierlayer (aluminum foil (film thickness 6.6 μm to 15 μm) or inorganic oxidesuch as silicon oxide, aluminium oxide) is vapor deposited); and thelike.

The flexible film has a structure in which two sheets of flexible film(flexible packing material), composed of a single layer or multiplelayers of different kinds, are layered (or a single sheet of such filmis doubly folded). The flexible film has a thickness of approximately 50μm to 100 μm in a case of a single layer and a thickness ofapproximately 70 μm to 150 μm in a case of multiple layers.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along a straight line a-a′ inthe plan view of the package bag 1 with safe notch of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the package bag 1 with safe notch of the presentembodiment is formed by layering two sheets of multi layered flexiblefilm. In the side sealed portion 2 a and the side sealed portion 2 a′ ofthe package bag 1 with safe notch, the layered film is joined. Thecontent storage portion 3 forms a hollow part, which can be filled withcontent such as foodstuff, to thereby store the content.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along a straight line b-b′ inthe plan view of the package bag 1 with safe notch of FIG. 1.

Although the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2B is almost identical to thecross-sectional view of FIG. 2A, since FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional viewtaken along a straight line b-b′ passing through the notch 4, a throughhole 5 of the notch 4, which penetrates the film, is shown.

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along a straight line c-c′ inthe plan view of the package bag 1 with safe notch of FIG. 1.

Since the straight line c-c′ is a direction orthogonal to the openingdirection and a straight line passing through the plurality of notches4, the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 2C shows the through holes 5of the plurality of notches 4.

A shape of the notch 4 is described hereinafter with reference to FIG.3.

FIG. 3A is a partially enlarged view of the opening start part Ro of thepackage bag 1 with safe notch of FIG. 1.

A plurality of notches 4 are provided at a position in the sealedportion 2, away from the outer edge portion 6 by a predetermineddistance D. Each of the notches 4 has an elongated linear shape (morestrictly, the shape of a bow laid flat, as described later) having alength L that is parallel to the opening direction (for example, thedirection of the straight line b-b′ in FIG. 1) and the notches 4 areprovided in a direction orthogonal to the opening direction at intervalsof I.

An appropriate length L of each of the plurality of notches 4 is 1 mm to2 mm, and preferably approximately 1.25 mm to 1.5 mm; an appropriatewidth W of an array of the plurality of notches 4 can be properly setaccording to the number of notches 4 and for example is approximately 6mm to 9 mm; an appropriate interval I is approximately 1 mm to 1.5 mm;and an appropriate distance D from the outer edge portion 6 to theclosest end of the notches 4 is 0.5 mm to 2 mm and is preferablyapproximately 1 mm to 1.25 mm.

In the sealed portion 2, two sheets of the flexible film are layered anda thickness P of the sealed portion 2 is approximately 40 to 120 μm in acase of a single layer film and approximately 160 to 240 μm in a case ofa multiple layer film.

Here, it is preferable that the length L of the notch 4 and thethickness P of the sealed portion 2 satisfy the following relationship(1).

4.0<L/P<50  (1)

If L/P is smaller than 4.0, the length L of the notch 4 is too shortwith respect to the thickness P of the sealed portion 2, and thisprevents stresses Fu and Fd shown in FIG. 4A (described later) frombeing caused and prevents a cleavage from being generated from the notch4.

On the other hand, if L/P is greater than 50, large stresses Fu and Fdmay be applied to the notch 4 during transportation and the like of thepackage bag, leading to an unexpected cleavage.

Given this, the range of L/P in the relationship (1) shown above issuitable in order to facilitate opening.

FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of one of the plurality of notches 4 shownin FIG. 3A.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the through hole 5 of the notch 4 has the shape ofa bow enclosed by a linear portion 7 and curved portion 8.

In the bag making process, after forming the sealed portion 2, apenetration apparatus makes a projecting cutting part having a tip endportion composed of a vertical face and an inclined face penetrate thesealed portion 2, the vertical face of the projecting cutting partforming the linear portion 7 cut and the inclined face of the projectingcutting part forming the curved portion 8 cut, thereby forming thebow-shaped through hole.

The length of the linear portion 7 is 1 mm to 2 mm and preferablyapproximately 1.25 mm to 1.5 mm; and a maximum distance between thelinear portion 7 and the curved portion 8 is approximately 0.01 mm to0.3 mm.

When opening is performed, among an end portion 9 and an end portion 10of the linear portion 7, a twisting stress of the opening action tendsto concentrate to the end portion 9 that is closer to the outer edgeportion 6. Given this, as described later, a cleavage is first generatedfrom the end portion 9, to which the stress is concentrated, toward theouter edge portion 6. This cleavage extends the through hole 5 of thenotch 4 toward the outer edge portion 6, to thereby reduce resistance toopening and thus facilitate opening.

Opening Action

Next, the opening action of the package bag 1 with safe notch accordingto the present invention is described with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an action of opening the package bagwith safe notch as an embodiment of the flexible film package bagaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 4A to 4D are diagrams sequentially showing steps of opening thepackage bag 1 with safe notch.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the opening action ofthe package bag 1 with safe notch has started. When a user appliesshearing force and tensile force by twisting the vicinity of the openingstart part Ro, in order to open the package bag 1 with safe notch, thestress Fu toward a front face and the stress Fd toward a back face asthe shearing force, as well as the stress Ft toward the upper end andthe stress Fb toward the lower base as the tensile force are applied tothe vicinity of the notch 4, as shown in FIG. 4A. Since the stress tendsto concentrate to the end portion 9 of the through hole 5 of the notch4, a cleavage is first generated from the end portion 9 toward the outeredge portion 6.

FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a state in which a cleavage has beengenerated after starting the opening action of the package bag 1 withsafe notch.

As described in FIG. 4A, once the cleavage is generated from the endportion 9 of the through hole 5 of the notch 4, the through hole 5 isextended toward the outer edge portion 6 as shown in FIG. 4B.Thereafter, the stress Fu toward the front face, the stress Fd towardthe back face, the stress Ft toward the upper end, and the stress Fbtoward the lower base, which are subsequently applied, further extendthe through hole 5 toward the outer edge portion 6 as shown in FIG. 4C.

As the above mentioned stress persists, the extended through hole 5 ofthe notch 4 is further extended and ultimately reaches the outer edgeportion 6 as shown in FIG. 4D. In this state in which a long slit isformed from the outer edge portion 6 to the end portion 10 of the notch4 on an inner side, opening can easily proceed in a direction of theslit, under a relatively small force applied to the end portion 10.

As described above, in the first embodiment, a plurality of bow-shapednotches 4 are provided at a position distant by the predetermineddistance D from the outer edge portion 6 of the package bag 1 with safenotch.

The package bag 1 with safe notch with the notches 4 provided at aposition distant by the predetermined distance D from the outer edgeportion 6 can prevent unintentional breakage or opening, since there isno cutout or slit in the outer edge portion 6.

In addition, since the notch 4 has the shape of a bow, a the tensileforce component can be concentrated at the end portion 9 of the notch 4and only a small force can make a cleavage from the end portion 9 on theouter edge side of the through hole 5 of the notch 4, therebyfacilitating opening.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration, different from that ofFIG. 1, of the package bag with a safe notch as an embodiment of theflexible film package bag according to the present invention.

In the package bag 1 with safe notch according to the second embodiment,the outer edge portion 6 of the opening start part Ro is not straightand is provided with a concave portion 12 formed by cutting out atrapezoidal shape, as shown in FIG. 5A. Other configurations of thepackage bag 1 with safe notch according to the second embodiment aresimilar to those of the first embodiment and a description thereof istherefore omitted.

FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of the concave portion 12 shown in FIG. 5Aand illustrates the outer edge portion that is cut out in a trapezoidalshape, with the outer edge portion 6 being an upper base of thetrapezoidal shape. An appropriate distance D between the outer edgeportion 6 corresponding to the upper base of the trapezoidal shape andthe closest end of the notches 4 is 0.5 mm to 2 mm and preferablyapproximately 1 mm to 1.25 mm; an appropriate length Y of the upper baseof the trapezoidal shape in the outer edge portion 6 is approximately 5mm to 15 mm; an appropriate length Z of a lower base of the trapezoidalshape being cut out from the concave portion is approximately 7 mm to 25mm; and an appropriate height H of the trapezoidal shape isapproximately 1 mm to 3 mm.

The concave portion 12 can easily be visually recognized by a user asthe opening start part Ro, and can also allow a visually handicappeduser to easily recognize the opening start part Ro by touch. Users canthus readily recognize the position of the opening start part of thepackage bag 1 with safe notch.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration, different from thoseof FIGS. 1 and 5, of the package bag with a safe notch as an embodimentof the flexible film package bag according to the present invention.

In the package bag 1 with safe notch according to the third embodiment,the outer edge portion 6 of the opening start part Ro is not straightand is provided with a convex portion 13 that projects in a trapezoidalshape, as shown in FIG. 6A. Other configurations of the package bag 1with safe notch according to the third embodiment are similar to thoseof the first embodiment and a description thereof is therefore omitted.

FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of the convex portion 13 shown in FIG. 6Aand illustrates the outer edge portion that projects in a trapezoidalshape, with the outer edge portion 6 being an upper base of thetrapezoidal shape. An appropriate distance D between the outer edgeportion 6 corresponding to the upper base of the trapezoidal shape andthe closest end of the notches 4, an appropriate length Y of the upperbase of the trapezoidal shape in the outer edge portion 6, and anappropriate length Z of a lower base of the trapezoidal shape thatprojects are the same as those in the package bag 1 with safe notchaccording to the second embodiment.

The convex portion 13 can easily be visually recognized by a user as theopening start part Ro, and can also allow a visually handicapped user toeasily recognize the opening start part Ro by touch. Users can thusreadily recognize the position of the opening start part Ro of thepackage bag 1 with safe notch.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration, different from thoseof FIGS. 1, 5A and 6A, of the package bag with a safe notch as anembodiment of the flexible film package bag according to the presentinvention.

In the package bag 1 with safe notch according to the fourth embodiment,the concave portion 14 as in the second embodiment and the convexportion 15 as in the third embodiment are provided respectively in theopening start portions Ro on the two sides of the package bag 1 withsafe notch. Other configurations of the package bag 1 with safe notchaccording to the fourth embodiment are similar to those of the firstembodiment and a description thereof is therefore omitted. The sizes ofthe concave portion 14 and the convex portion 15 are the same as thosein the second embodiment and the third embodiment, and a descriptionthereof is therefore omitted.

The concave portion 14 and the convex portion 15 can easily be visuallyrecognized by a user as the opening start parts Ro, and can also allow avisually handicapped user to easily recognize the opening start parts Roby touch. Users can thus readily recognize the position of the openingstart part Ro of the package bag 1 with safe notch.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view illustrating a configuration,different from that of FIG. 3A, of the package bag with a safe notch asan embodiment of the flexible film package bag according to the presentinvention.

In the package bag 1 with safe notch according to the fifth embodiment,the plurality of notches 4 are arranged radially toward the outer edgeportion 6 as shown in FIG. 8, instead of being arranged in parallel. Inother words, from the viewpoint of distances between adjacent notches,the distance between the end portion 9 and the end portion 10 is greateron outer sides. Other configurations of the package bag 1 with safenotch according to the fifth embodiment are similar to those of thefirst embodiment and a description thereof is therefore omitted.

The radial notches 4 are not particularly limited in terms of number andradiation angle thereof; however, an appropriate distance L between theend portion 9 that is close to the outer edge portion 6 and the endportion 10 on an inner side is approximately 1 mm to 2 mm, and anappropriate width W between the uppermost end portion and the lowermostend portion of the plurality of notches 4 is approximately 6 mm to 12mm.

Since the plurality of notches 4 of the package bag 1 with safe notchaccording to the fifth embodiment is arranged radially toward the outeredge portion 6, stress upon opening is easily concentrated from outerside to inner side. Given this, compared to a case in which the notches4 are arranged in parallel, the resistance to opening is reduced and auser can open the package bag 1 with safe notch more easily.

It should be noted that the radial arrangement of the notches 4 in thefifth embodiment is not limited to an application to a package bag witha straight outer edge portion as in the first embodiment, and can alsobe applied to a package bag with the concave portion 14 and the convexportion 15 as in the second to fourth embodiments.

It should also be noted that, although the notches 4 of the first tofifth embodiments have been described as bow-shaped through holes, thenotches in the package bag with notch are not necessarily bow shapedthrough holes penetrating two sheets of film and may also be configuredsuch that only the linear portion 7 penetrates the film and the curvedportion 8 does not penetrate the film (the bow shaped part is notcompletely cut out, and a part of the bow shaped part is connected tothe film, looking like a slit rather than a hole).

FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating a shape of the notch 4 in the flexiblefilm package bag 1 in this case that is different from that of FIG. 3B.

In FIG. 9A, in the bow shaped part of the notch, the linear portion 7and a part of the curved portion 8 close to the two ends of the linearportion 7 (shown by a solid line) penetrate two sheets of film, and theremaining portion of the curved portion 8 (dotted line) does notpenetrate the film.

As shown in FIG. 9B, if the bow shaped notch with a nonpenetrating partis viewed along a cross section c-c′ of FIG. 1, a part corresponding tothe linear portion 7 penetrates two sheets of film, while a remainingpart of the curved portion 8 (shown by a dotted line in FIG. 9A) isconnected to the film, and the bow shaped part is thus not cut out.

This provides an effect of not generating bow shaped film chads duringthe manufacturing process. Even if the bow shaped hole is not completelycut out, the shapes of the notch 4 as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B canfacilitate opening, as the stress is concentrated to bowstring end partsof the bow shaped part.

In addition, since the linear portion 7 penetrates the film while a partof the curved portion 8 remains connected, a cleavage generated from theend portion 9 on the outer edge portion 6 side can run straight towardthe outer edge portion 6, thereby facilitating opening.

The shape of the notch 4 in the above described first to fifthembodiments is not necessarily limited to the bow shape and can also be:a linear shape; an isosceles triangle shape arranged with an apex on anouter side and a base on an inner side; a rectangular shape arrangedwith an angle on an outer side positioned at an end portion; and thelike. These shapes can also provide an effect of facilitating opening ofthe package bag, similarly to the above described configuration, as thestress is concentrated to an end portion (or an apex) on an outer side.

Several embodiments of the present invention have been described above;however, these embodiments are merely examples and do not limit thetechnical scope of the present invention. The present invention can alsobe embodied in many different ways and can be modified in various wayssuch as by omission and replacement, within a scope that does not departfrom the spirit of the present invention. These embodiments andmodifications thereof are within the scope and spirit of the inventiondescribed in the present specification and the like, and are within thescope of the invention recited in the claims and equivalents thereof.

1. A flexible film package bag comprising: a sealed portion in which aflexible film is joined; and a plurality of notches for opening, whereinthe plurality of notches are provided in such a way that an end thereofon an outer edge portion side of the flexible film package bag ispositioned away from the outer edge portion by a predetermined distance,wherein the plurality of notches have a shape enclosed by: a pluralityof linear portions that are parallel to each other or a plurality oflinear portions that extend radially from an inner side to an outerside; and curved portions that connect both ends of the linear portionsrespectively, and wherein the linear portions penetrate the flexiblefilm, and the curved portions are connected to the flexible film. 2.(canceled)
 3. The flexible film package bag according to claim 1,wherein length (L) of each of the plurality of the notches and thickness(P) of the sealed portion satisfy the following relationship (1)4.0<L/P  (1).
 4. The flexible film package bag according to claim 1,wherein an outer edge portion on an outer side of a part in which thenotch is provided has a concave portion formed by cutting out atrapezoidal shape in an inward direction.
 5. The flexible film packagebag according to claim 1, wherein an outer edge portion on an outer sideof a part in which the notch is provided has a convex portion thatprojects in a trapezoidal shape in an outward direction.